Del. Lily Qi

Maddy summaryHB 506 establishes the Transformational Project Financing Program under Maryland's Economic Development Corporation. It allows local governments (political subdivisions) to apply for designation of specific areas as "State-supported development districts" to fund major development projects. The key mechanism redirects property tax revenue from increased property values ("tax increment") within these districts into a dedicated fund, rather than the general municipal budget, for approved projects. Priority areas include sustainable communities, transit-oriented developments, and designated enterprise zones. This program modifies existing law to create a structured process for economic development financing through tax increment funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1191 updates Maryland's child custody laws by requiring courts to consider specific factors when determining legal and physical custody. It strengthens protections for children by mandating courts to deny custody or visitation to parents with a history of abuse or neglect, and to prioritize safety arrangements if abuse is suspected. The bill also explicitly bars custody awards to parents convicted of murder (including out-of-state convictions) unless supervised visitation ensures the child's safety. These changes directly affect family courts and parents involved in custody disputes across Maryland. The law focuses on child safety and well-being, adding clear guidelines for judicial decisions without altering existing penalties or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1450 modifies Maryland's Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Incentive Program by removing dollar limits on state matching awards for eligible small businesses. Specifically, it repeals caps that previously restricted Phase I awards to $25,000 and Phase II awards to $75,000, allowing full matching of federal SBIR/STTR awards without those dollar thresholds. The bill also adjusts award frequency limits, changing the rule from "no more than three awards" to "no more than one award per fiscal year" for any single business. This directly affects Maryland small businesses receiving federal SBIR/STTR grants, enabling them to access potentially larger state matching funds for research and development activities.

Maddy summaryHB 15 creates a new legal structure for worker cooperatives in Maryland, allowing businesses where employees jointly own and manage the company to form under standardized rules. It establishes specific requirements for formation, governance, conversion, and dissolution through new sections (4A-12A-01 to 4A-12A-22) in Maryland’s business law code. The bill requires worker cooperatives to file Articles of Organization and a Cooperative Agreement (similar to bylaws for other entities) and pay annual reporting fees like other business structures. This directly affects businesses seeking to operate as employee-owned cooperatives by providing a clear, state-approved framework for their legal operation.

Maddy summaryHB 1364 shifts administration of Maryland's Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund from the Comptroller to the Office of Social Equity. It requires the Office to oversee fund distribution, train recipients, and establish a new Community Reinvestment and Repair Advisory Board. The bill also mandates counties to follow specific rules when using the fund, requires annual county plans for distributing funds to community organizations, and limits administrative costs to $50,000 annually. This fund, financed by cannabis tax revenues, directly supports communities disproportionately impacted by past drug enforcement policies. The bill repeals prior reporting requirements for the Office while adding new accountability measures for fund usage.

Maddy summaryHB 1439 exempts health benefit plans issued through professional employer organizations (PEOs), coemployers, or employee leasing organizations from certain Maryland health insurance requirements that apply to other plans. This directly affects small employers (defined as those with an average of 50 or fewer employees) who use PEOs to provide health benefits to their workers. The bill modifies Maryland’s insurance code to create a specific exemption, removing the need for PEOs to comply with standard health plan rules under Section 15-1204.1(a)(2). This change simplifies access to health benefits for small businesses using PEO services without altering the core requirements for other health plan providers.

Maddy summaryHB 1454 requires Maryland's Department of Aging to hire an independent consultant to study the licensing and regulation of continuing care retirement communities and at-home providers. The study must assess which state agencies (like the Department of Aging and Insurance Administration) are best positioned to lead regulation, compare Maryland's current oversight roles with other states, and analyze how other states regulate these facilities. It will specifically examine Maryland's existing laws (Title 10, Subtitle 4 of the Human Services Article) against other states' approaches, including fees, penalties, and funding. The results must be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2026. This bill does not change current regulations but mandates a review to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1445 requires Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development to create and publish a plain-language fact sheet explaining legal issues around residential property ownership after a homeowner's death (like "tangled title" problems with deeds or heirs). Licensed funeral homes must provide a printed copy of this fact sheet to the deceased's immediate family members or authorized representatives during funeral services. The fact sheet will cover how to resolve property ownership issues, include information on probate resources, and list free or low-cost legal assistance for low-income residents. This bill takes effect June 1, 2025, directly affecting funeral homes and families navigating property matters after a death.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows terminally ill Maryland residents with decision-making capacity to request medication to end their lives through a structured process. It requires two physician consultations (including a consulting physician confirming the diagnosis), a mental health assessment, and written requests spaced at least 15 days apart. Pharmacists may dispense the medication only to qualifying patients, and the law clarifies that providers acting under these rules won’t violate assisted suicide laws. Death from self-administered medication will be recorded as natural causes for insurance and legal purposes.

Maddy summaryThis is a Maryland House Joint Resolution (HJ 1), not a bill, urging the U.S. Congress to enact H.R. 4052 - the "National Infrastructure Bank Act." It requests the creation of a $5 trillion national infrastructure bank to finance repairs to roads, bridges, water systems, and broadband, while supporting new projects like affordable housing and high-speed rail. The resolution cites Maryland’s specific infrastructure needs (e.g., 1,595 bridges requiring repair, aging water systems, and traffic congestion costs) as justification for federal action. It does not directly affect Maryland residents or create new state law; it is solely a request to Congress to pass enabling legislation.